Metal stake



Patented Jan. 28, 1.930

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL STAKE Application led December 14,1927. Serial No. 239,910.

This invention relates to a metal stake or post and more particularly toa metal stake which is especially adapted for use by persons such assurveyors, engineers, architects and land-owners.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel andadvantageous metal stake of such a character that it combines strengthand stiffness with lightness of weight. Other io objects are to providesuch a stake having requisite area of top for driving and marking; a

stake adapted for nestability for economy and convenience oftransportation and storage; a

stake of convenient shape for withdrawal when, for example, it isdesired for use elsewhere; and a stake hL ving a rounded top whichprovides a definite high spot upon which to stand a level rod, even inthe event that the stake is not driven plumb.

The stake of the present invention possesses many advantages over theordinary wooden stake in that it can be driven fiush with or even lowerthan the surface of the ground; it can be located when desired by meansof a dipping needle or pipe detector;

the nestable feature enables compactness of assembly unobtainable withwooden stakes; the top provides a smooth surface for stamping or markingwith metal tools, thus enabling a record of the stake, its designationin the survey or plot, the surveyor, owner, elevation, etc.; it will notbe broomed at top or bottom by driving and, due to its smallerdisplacement of earth, can be driven more easily; due to its harderpoint it will more easily penetrate hard material and can be driven moreoften without the use of a driving bar in advance; it is unburnable inbrush or forest fire and will not ordinarily be substantially affectedthereby, and of course will not rot; and if driven to ledge rock beforepenetrating the ground to its entire length, it may be withdrawn readilyand cut off at the proper point, as by sawing, so that when again placedin the ground, its top may be brought to the proper elevation.

The invention also contemplates that the metal stake shall bemanufactured of metal which is practically unaffected by rust orcorrosion, so that the stake, being made in dif ferent sizes, maysupplant, for use as permanent monuments, stone and concrete markers,over which the metal stake has advantages in that it can be drivenins-tead of being placed in a hole excavated in advance and it can bemore easily transported, especially in substantially inaccessibleregions, than a concrete or stone marker or the materials used in makinga concrete marker.

@ther objects and advantages will appear upon consideration of thefollowing description and the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation;

-Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

iig. 3 is a section taken along the line of Fig. 2; and

l? ig. 4 is a section taken along the line mit of F ig. l.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown for illustrative purposes, anintegral metal stake 10 having a shank 11 and a cap or head 12. Theshank l1 may be formed with t-wo web portionsor plates l?) extending atsub stantially a right angle from a common edge 14 and their lower endsmay be tapered to present edges l5 converging toward said edge at thelower end of the shank 1l, thus assisting in providing a suitabledriving end or point for the shank.

The head l2 may be formed with an upwardly convex surface and may be ofrectangular outline with two of its edges joined to the upper coges ofthe web portions 18 of the shank l1 and may be reinforced at the othertwo edges by a flange or flanges 16 extending downwardly therefrom andjoined to said web portions.

Preferably the stake is formed of metal or metal alloy which is stronglyresistant to rust or corrosion. For some uses, however, sufficientresistance to rust or corrosion may be obtained by plating the stakewith suitable rnaterial or subjecting its surface to treatment suitablefor rendering it resistant to such destructive action.

lVhen used with its upper surface flush with the ground, the stake isheld firmly in position but may be withdrawn by inserting the point of asuitable implement beneath the part of the cap or cap flange projectingbeyond the shank.

The stake may be manufactured in various ways for example, by casting orby stamping out blanks of the proper shape, bendlng the parts to givethe required arrangement and welding the partstogether as required.

It should be understood that various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An integral Inetal stake comprising a shank consisting of two websextending at substantially a right angle from their common edge, anupwardly convex top extendingfover the opening between said webs, and aflange extending downwardly from said top beyond the edges of said websand joined atits ends to said webs.

2; An integral metal stake comprising a metal shank consisting of twoweb portions extending at substantially a right angle to each other froma common edge and tapered toward saidedge at the lowerend of the shankto provide a driving point, arectangular cap joined at two of its edgeswith the upper ends of said web portions, and a flange projectingdownwardly from the other two edges of said cap and joined at its endsto the web portions of said shank.

3, A11-integral metal stake comprising a metallshank consisting of twoweb portions extending at` substantially a right angle to each otherfrom a common edge and formed to provide. a driving end, a generallyrectangular cap with a convex upper surface andbeing joined at two ofits edges with the web portlons of said shank, and flanges joined to thecap at the other two edges and also to the web portions of said shank.

In witness whereof, I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM L. LANCE.

